Running from the River Main to the Alps, it is Germany’s best known and most popular tourist route, famous for its medieval towns and the fairy-tale castle at Neuschwanstein: fascination and the sense of being transported back in time.
Neuschwanstein, nestled in the Bavarian Alps above the city of near Füssen, is the most famous German castle and one of the top sights and attractions in Germany.
But compared to other castles in the country, Neuschwanstein is neither old nor was it ever built for defense. Ludwig II of Bavaria constructed this fairy tale castle in 1869 for pure pleasure. Ludwig, who was allegedly mad and draining the public coffers for his pet project, never enjoyed his dream castle — before Neuschwanstein was completely finished he mysteriously drowned in a nearby lake. Whether this was an accident, suicide, or a deliberate act by one of his subjects may never be known.
Design Details
![Neuschwanstein Neuschwanstein](/uploads/1/2/5/8/125861926/815678656.jpg)
Ludwig II built it as a fantastic summer retreat with the help of a stage designer. He admired Richard Wagner, and Neuschwanstein is a homage to the German composer. Many scenes of Wagner's operas are depicted in the interior of the castle. In fact, Neuschwanstein shares the same name as the castle in Wagner's opera Lohengrin.
And despite the castle's medieval appearance, Ludwig built in modern technologies of the day, such as flush toilets, running hot and cold water and heating. But what set people's imagination truly on fire is the elegant spires jutting up from the spectacular setting and the decadent interior design. Neuschwanstein was Walt Disney's inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland and its image has come to symbolize the quintessential castle.
Tours take crowds of visitors through the apartments and staterooms of the king on the third and fourth floors. The second floor was never finished and houses a shop, a cafeteria, and a multimedia room.
Visitor Information
- Address: Alpseestrasse 12, 87645 Hohenschwangau, 73 miles southwest of Munich
- Website: www.neuschwanstein.de
Transportation
- By Car: Take the Autobahn A7 towards Ulm-Füssen-Kempten; when the Autobahn ends, just follow the signs to Füssen. From Füssen, drive the B17 into the direction of Schwangau, and then continue to Hohenschwangau.
- By Train: Take the train to Füssen, then hop on the bus Nr. RVA/OVG 78 into the direction of Schwangau. Get off at the Hohenschwangau/Alpseestraße stop and walk up the hill to the castle.
- For a fee, a horse-drawn carriage is available to avoid the climb.
Tours
- You can only visit the lavish interior of the castle as part of a guided tour. Tours last approximately 30 minutes.
- German and English tours are available. For visitors who speak another language, there is an audio tour available in Japanese, French, Spanish, Italian, Czech, Slovenian, Russian, Polish, Chinese (Mandarin), Portuguese, Hungarian, Greek, Dutch, Korean, Thai, and Arabic.
- Tours for wheelchairs are available.
Admission/Tickets
![Germany Germany](http://www.destination360.com/europe/germany/images/s/neuschwanstein-castle.jpg)
- Entrance tickets for Neuschwanstein Castle can only be bought at the ticket center in the village of Hohenschwangau below the castle.
- Combination tickets for all of King Ludwig II's palaces (Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, and Herrenchiemsee) are available They are valid for six months and you can visit each of the palaces once.
Helpful Tips
- No photographing or filming is allowed inside the castle.
- For the best panoramic pictures, take a walk up to the recently restored Marienbrücke which crosses a spectacular waterfall (Pollät Gorge) and gives you a breathtaking view of Neuschwanstein and the plains beyond. Note that this walk may be closed in icy conditions.
- Neuschwanstein is a very popular attraction most crowded in summer (around 6,000 visitors a day or more than 1.4 million people annually). The best time to visit is spring or fall mid-week.
- This popularity also means that entrance tickets may sell out. To ensure entrance, reserve tickets in advance.
- Large backpacks, strollers, and other bulky objects may not be taken into the palace.
- Combine Neuschwanstein with a visit to the Castle Hohenschwangau, where Ludwig spent most of his life. It is lesser known but no less spectacular.
- Neuschwanstein is the highlight of the scenic drive Romantic Road.
Perched over one of the world's prettiest gorges, Neuschwanstein Castle is everyone's fantasy dream. It's the image you've seen everywhere that makes you want to start planning your trip to Germany. Why not rent that Porsche and hit the romantic road? We'll give you what you need to know.
Location
Neuschwanstein Castle, one of the most popular destinations in Europe, is located in the German State of Bavaria close to Germany's border with Austria, not far from the popular ski resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The closest airport is Munich, 128km to the northeast.
Tickets and Guided Tours
Entrance tickets to the castle must be purchased at the ticket center in Hohenschwangau before you start the climb to the castle. Cost is 9 Euros for an adult. The mandatory tour takes a little over half an hour. There are 165 stairs to climb on the tour, and 181 to descend. A recent traveler reports that there is now a cafe inside. Tours for the disabled in wheelchair and walkers are held on Wednesdays.
Best Views
You can get good pictures of the castle and waterfall from Marienbruecke (Mary's Bridge). Between the bridge and the castle is a view of Hohenschwangau castle. Photography is not allowed inside the castle.
Getting There
- By rail: Take the train to the town of Füssen, then bus 9713 to Hohenschwangau.
- By car: Take the A7 to Füssen, then on to Hohenschwangau where you'll find parking. From Hohenschwangau, you can walk to the castle in 30 minutes. You can get a 5-minute ride by horse-drawn carriage for 5 euros uphill and 2.50 euros on the return downhill. A bus is also available from Schlosshotel Lisl, Neuschwansteinstraße in Hohenschwangau.
Where to Stay
We recommend staying spending the night in Hohenschwangau. The Hotel Mueller has views of both castles and a good restaurant. You can also stay nearby in Fussen, as many do.
Description and History
Neuschwanstein Castle was built by King Ludwig II, sometimes known as Mad King Ludwig although less and less these days. His aim was to replicate medieval architecture, especially the Romanesque, and to pay homage to the operas of Wagner. You may think you've already seen it--it's Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle, but real.
The foundation stone was set on September 5th, 1869. When Ludwig II died in 1886, the castle was still not complete.
The building site near Pöllat Gorge is probably one of the most beautiful in the world.
Interesting Facts
- The Castle is under tremendous tourism pressure; in summer over 6000 people wind through the castle per day - 1.3 million per year.
- Since 1990, the state has spent 11.2 million euros on renovation and maintenance of the castle and improvement of the visitor service.
- Neuschwanstein Castle was opened to the public 7 weeks after the death of King Ludwig II.
- Although the Castle was designed to look medieval, it had quite modern refinements: hot air, running water, automatic flush toilets were all part of the royal residence.
- The kitchen at Neuschwanstein has been preserved in its entirety, featuring automatic spits and cupboards that could be heated with hot air from the large kitchen stove.
- From Neuschwanstein Castle, there are great views of alpine lakes, especially the Alpsee. Hiking trails abound near the Alpsee, and the one circling the lake is protected as a nature reserve.
Around the Area
Germany's 'Romantic Road', which runs from Würzburg to Füssen can be combined with a visit to the castle.